Newsletter for July 2010: Impulsive Foolishness or Disastrous Hesitation
Foolish Impulse or Tragic Hesitation?
Strictly Business: The Purpose of Business
Humor: Painful Puns Just Ahead!
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Some of us are “planners.” For them plans, research and a methodical approach are required. Impulsive action makes them nervous, and that’s fine. Others are built for speed. They see opportunity and feel they must act quickly. That’s fine, too! As Shakespeare advised, “First, know thyself and to thine own self be true.” Design your life so that it (mostly) brings you the type of opportunities and situations you prefer.
Foolish Impulse or Tragic Hesitation?
The English language is full of clichés, but few are more confusing than the conflict between “Fools rush in” and “Those who hesitate are lost.” How do we balance the “need for speed” with the advice to “look before you leap?”
We all know the necessity for planning and preparation. We know that success requires a strong foundation, careful thought, and precision. But, we are also advised to “strike while the iron is hot” and that “the early bird gets the worm.” What’s a person to do?
This confusion first struck me when I read about Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott, the first two men to reach the South Pole. Amundsen was the more impulsive of the two. He landed on the shelf ice, unloaded his gear and took off. He got to the pole first, and he returned to tell the tale.
Robert Scott was far more organized, and he had better equipment. When he landed on the ice, he prepared carefully for the enormous challenge ahead. He was the better scientist and he, too, got to the South Pole. But he got there second and, because of his delay the Antarctic winter began before he got back. After weeks of bitter and heroic struggle, he and his men died just eleven miles short of base camp and safety.
I also recall the story of young Theodore Roosevelt. When he was 25, after his wife died in childbirth, Roosevelt made his first trip to the “Bad Lands.” When his guide backed out, he plunged ahead with no idea what to expect. He was unprepared and might have died, but instead found a rugged wilderness that restored his health and in many ways created the man who later became president. Who could have guessed?
So how do we balance the “need for speed” with the advice to “look before you leap?”
First, understand and honor your unique personality. Some of us are “planners.” For them plans, research and a methodical approach are required. Impulsive action makes them nervous, and that’s fine! But others are built for speed. They see opportunity and feel they must act quickly. That’s fine, too! As Shakespeare advised, “First, know thyself and to thine own self be true.” Design your life so that it (mostly) brings you the type of opportunities and situations you prefer.
Second, understand the limitations of your preferences. Some of us eagerly jump in, while others are planners, and both are good but each has its limitations.
Some things in life must be grasped instantly or they are gone forever. Sometimes, if “you snooze, you lose!” and if you are a planner, some opportunities won’t fit your natural inclinations. Design your life so that, as often as possible, you have time you need for thoughtful, careful consideration.
Others prefer the drama and excitement of speed. If that’s your preference, design systems that create multiple opportunities where you can “grab and go.” But, be aware of the downside risk. Some impulses, like driving too quickly on a dark and slippery road, can end in tragedy.
Finally, learn the fine art of flexibility. Few of us are so extreme in one direction or the other that we can’t make exceptions when called for. Learn to analyze the true nature of the situation, and respond accordingly. Even if you strongly prefer careful planning, know that some situations call for immediate action and that’s alright! Go for it! It’s good practice and might, like Roosevelt’s ride into the Badlands, lead to amazing results. Other situations require detailed preparation and no matter how much you want to act quickly, caution is advised. Winners recognize the difference and respond appropriately.
The key to success is using your personal preferences to your advantage. Design a life that builds on your strengths.
Quotes of the Month
"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing." -- Theodore Roosevelt
"Fear is nothing except a drain of energy and not a power unto itself. Trust in yourself, for therein lies the true power." -- Lori Hard
"We don't know who we are until we see what we can do." -- Martha Grimes
"When you follow your bliss doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors; and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else." -- Joseph Campbell
Strictly Business: The Reverse of “All Hat and No Cattle”
One of the saddest mistakes I see professionals and businesses owners make is the reverse of the phrase, “all hat and no cattle.” This is a Texas phrase that refers to someone who has a big mouth and little or no follow-through. The reverse of that is to build a GREAT enterprise, with little or no marketing.
Every week, I work with professionals and entrepreneurs who provide a great product or service, people who have invested and taken risks to create a great business, only to watch it struggle for lack of customers. Why?
A common pattern is that they (1) are not good at marketing and (2) they compound the problem by refusing to invest in marketing!
Yes, they may throw a little money at advertising. They may have attended a workshop or even paid a consultant at some point, but they fail to understand the dynamics of marketing and they refuse to get better at it!
Remember the definition of insanity: “Doing the same thing over and over, while expecting a different result!”
Consider this scenario, which is all too frequent: a passionate professional invests many years and thousands of dollars in education. They love their work and they are very good at it. So they do a little “marketing,” then they wait, hoping their expertise and passion will attract customers. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen.
Or I see business owners who put their life savings into a new business because to provide a great service at a fair price. But since everything’s invested in the business, there’s no money, time or energy for marketing and within a year, the business closes its doors. What a waste! The community loses a valuable service, and the owner loses the business and their life savings.
Invest in marketing! And perhaps more important, invest in learning HOW to market. There are lots of great trainings, books and manuals to help you! If you don’t have enough customers, treat it as a skill problem and master it!
If you want to really kick your business up a notch, take our 90-day challenge.
The 90 Day Challenge is a free program for those who want to increase the success and profitability of their business. It is beneficial for anyone who does not yet have the number of clients/customers that he/she desires. Whether you are functioning in your business on a part-time basis or you are into it full time, or you are somewhere in between, the 90 Day Challenge will help put your business on the road to success!
Sign Up Now!
Click on the following link and sign up today and you will have immediately access to our 48 page instruction document to get you started. After that, you will receive 13 weekly installments to guide you through the process to greater success. http://bit.ly/cwyM6Y
Humor: Painful Puns Just Ahead!
My brain isn’t very quick at coming up with puns and clever word-plays, and maybe that’s why I enjoy them so much. I often call them “bumper slickers” and appreciate people who have the knack for these things.
Those who jump off a bridge in Paris are in Seine.
A backward poet writes inverse.
A man's home is his castle... in a manor of speaking.
Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.
Practice safe eating - always use condiments.
Shotgun wedding: A case of wife or death.
A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
Condoms should be used on every conceivable occasion.
Reading while sunbathing makes you well red.
When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.
A plateau is a high form of flattery.
Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
Once you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.
Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.
Rodger Blaker works with executives, small business owners and professionals who want to grow in their business and create an extraordinary life!
For info on resources for your success, visit: http://www.rodgerblaker.com or call me at 214-485-2238.
Please forward this copy to your friends and colleagues! That's how I grow!